For the second time, Texas Conference Adventist Community Services (ACS) held a giveaway at its warehouse in Keene, Tex., earlier this year. Church leaders could reserve a time to pick up items provided by various donors, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), retail stores and other faith-based organizations.
“Our church families are great for helping us to get the donated items to those who need it most,” Bo Gendke, Texas Conference ACS director, shared. He and his wife, Deborah, serve the Texas Conference and the Southwestern Union territory. “Serving in both roles keeps us busy, especially during disasters.”
The ACS giveaway provides an excellent way for church members to “love on their community,” as the Gendkes refer to helping in each area. “Some churches just need a boost to get out of the pew and into the community, and we hope to provide that,” Gendke shared.
Church leaders give the items away in different ways. Some invite people to the church for a free meal and complimentary shopping time to choose items they need. Others go to the streets to find those living without or with little shelter to share blankets, jackets and other necessities. “We also encourage the churches to contact their city officials,” Gendke added. “It is important we work together to help those in need.”
Following the 30-minute reserved pick-up time, individuals were there to give a prayer of blessings with the church leaders and members before they left, as only the Lord knows who will receive the much-needed items and what a blessing it is for the giver and receiver.
“We are a Church that knows prayer works!” Gendke stated. “Prayer is truly the reason our warehouse is bursting at the seams. We asked God to help us reach and care for other ministries besides disaster response and used clothing. He has answered our prayers very loudly, and we can now help those in [other] ministries.”
This past fall, a “Victory Vault” was created at the warehouse to provide clothing for those entering the workforce. It is in addition to the clothing kits created for those in disasters.
“God has made it very clear to us,” Gendke added, “if we get these resources to the churches to distribute to their communities, He will continue to fill the warehouse.”
Please keep the Texas Conference ACS and its leadership team in your prayers as they work to serve those in need. Find more information and ways to give at Texas-ACS.org. View photos from one of the giveaway events at Flickr.com/TexasAdventist under “ACS Care Package Day.”
—
Tamara Michalenko Terry is an associate director for Communications & Public Relations for the Texas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.
A version of this article appeared in the May/June 2023 issue of the Southwestern Union Record.
